A Milwaukee council on April 18 passed a resolution urging Ascension St. Francis Hospital — part of Ascension Wisconsin — to reconsider the closure of its labor and delivery services, according to NBC affiliate TMJ4.
The hospital closed the unit in December and transitioned labor and delivery services to Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital Milwaukee and Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital-St. Joseph Campus in Milwaukee.
The decision to consolidate the services in Milwaukee was made after "a thoughtful discernment process with our clinical and medical leaders to ensure we continue to provide high quality care to the community," an Ascension Wisconsin spokesperson told Becker's in January.
The consolidation of labor and delivery services is something that is occurring across the country as hospitals continue to grapple with rising costs and staffing shortages. A rising number of rural hospitals are closing these units, leading to maternity care deserts — counties without a hospital or birth center offering obstetric care and without any obstetric providers.
"Ascension Wisconsin appreciates the engagement by the Milwaukee Common Council, and we are focused on our continued commitment to providing high-quality, personalized healthcare to the people of Milwaukee," the health system said in a statement shared with Becker's. "While Ascension St. Francis Hospital ceased delivering babies in December 2022, the hospital continues to care for mothers and babies leading up to and after childbirth which is critical to the health of mothers and infants. In addition, we are delivering on our commitment to preserve and strengthen labor and delivery services at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital-Milwaukee Campus."